Demolition confirmed on burned out Kerr Building
By Timothy Schafer
The Kerr Apartment Building is coming down.
Several major hazards associated with the 100-year-old burned out stone structure have convinced investigators the building would not be safe to rebuild, said Nelson Fire and Rescue Services chief Simon Grypma on Wednesday afternoon.
He said a brief tour of the building — that burned in a destructive fire on Jan. 5 — revealed decay, mold, disintegration of the wall coverings and personal belongings.
But more importantly, structural problems were found to exist, which sealed the fate of the stone exterior, once thought to be salvageable in the wake of the fire.
“The south exterior granite wall has been found to be unstable, and as a result will require stabilization of both the east and west walls,” said Grypma in a press release. “This process is difficult and, unfortunately, will not ensure their stability when the rear wall is dismantled.”
However, the front of the building could still be used if the floor system is able to support the rock walls. This will only be known once the demolition begins, said Grypma.
“The owners are hoping to salvage and use as much of the front heritage portion of the building as possible, but at this time the demolition will be the determining factor as to how much will be salvageable,” he said.
The completion of the fire investigation and the removal of the utilities are also pending.
The demolition won’t be an easy one, said Grypma. The building is in an “extremely delicate and dangerous” state and safety will be the leading factor in what is saved and how it comes down.
WorkSafeBC expressed a concern for the safety of the workers and are working with the contractor and engineer to determine the safest course for action for the demolition, Grypma said.
“We are asking the public and neighboring businesses for their cooperation and patience during this process,” he said. “Please remember to stay a safe distance from the property and any machinery on site.”
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See also
• Investigation of fire on hold
• Kerr building fire “suspicious”
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